½ red onion

½ green bell pepper

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 pound ground beef

1½ cups crushed tomatoes

1½ cups water

2 cups cooked white rice

Salt and pepper, to taste

¼ teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon (or to taste) cayenne pepper

• Peel and chop the red onion. Wash the green bell pepper, remove the seeds, and dice.

• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. Add the onion and cook on medium-low heat until tender. Add the green pepper.

• Spoon the vegetables into a bowl and add the ground beef to the pan. Brown the ground beef and drain off most of the fat. Add the crushed tomatoes, water, and cooked rice. Stir in the salt and pepper, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper. Cover and simmer for another 20 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Serve hot.

Cooking Brown Rice

Cooking instructions for brown rice are nearly identical to those for long-grain white rice. Use 1½ cups of water for every cup of rice. Bring the water to a boil, cover the saucepan tightly with a lid, and let the rice simmer for 30 minutes or until the water has evaporated. Turn off the heat and let stand, covered, for another 10 minutes. Do not stir.